Abstract
The seismic vulnerability of confined masonry houses is a relevant problem in developing regions, especially in self-managed constructions, whose structural performance depends on the quality of the confinement. This research evaluated the influence of this quality on seismic vulnerability, considering the moderating effect of mechanical coupling of the interface. To this end, 326 houses were analyzed through technical inspections and a model of structural equations by partial least squares, complemented with statistical validation procedures. The results showed that a higher quality of confinement significantly reduces seismic vulnerability (β = −0.469; p < 0.001), an effect that intensifies when the mechanical coupling between structural elements improves. It is concluded that the effectiveness of confinement does not depend exclusively on its construction characteristics, but also on the integrity of the interface, whose evaluation is essential to properly guide seismic reinforcement strategies.
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